A 16-year-old boy appeared at Folkestone Youth Court today accused of setting fire to a homeless man as he slept.

The teenager is alleged to have set fire to the vagrant’s beard and sleeping bag while he slept in a shelter at Marine Parade on the seafront at Dover, during the early hours of Saturday morning.

He has been charged with arson with intent to endanger life.

The case was adjourned at lunchtime. During the morning prosecutor Marie Davis argued against the youth being allowed bail. The case was due to resume this afternoon when defence solicitor Rocco Marinaccio was to argue that his client should be freed from custody.

The teenager first appeared in court yesterday when he was remanded in custody overnight.